Student Invents Groundbreaking New Makeup Machine

Megan Cox and her MIT classmates have invented a new cosmetics machine that could potentially revolutionize the beauty industry. The machine, named Mélange, uses innovative mixing technologies that create customized cosmetics to perfectly match a woman’s skin tone. Mélange began as a customized nail polish mixing machine in the spring of 2013. When Megan joined the startup team in April, she convinced her teammates to update the machine to mix all types of cosmetics because she knew it would appeal to a wider group of women.

“I think one of the biggest issues when it comes to makeup is finding a foundation or concealer that matches your skin. Your skin tone is constantly changing between the seasons and you’re forced to buy several different foundations for your kit. It can be really expensive! With Mélange, you get a smaller dose and you can adjust the color whenever you want, so you get a perfect match every time,” Megan said.

The machine uses an innovative technology where women can upload their photo, either directly to the machine or from a smart phone. The machine then provides a perfect color match to their skin tone and also suggests different complimentary cosmetic colors. The user can select a slightly different color variation, then quickly send the formula to the machine for “printing.”

“The analogy we like to use is that Mélange is like Keurig coffee cup with the technology of a 3D printer. You put the bottle in, choose your color, and Mélange produces the makeup for you in minutes,” Megan said.

Mélange is so innovative it impressed a group of successful entrepreneurs at a recent competition between MIT and Harvard students. Megan’s team placed second overall and was awarded $5,000 for legal fees that will be used to secure their patent for Mélange. It was a huge accomplishment because the competition is typically dominated by men. Right now, Megan and her team are working hard to secure funding so they can focus on the product full time after they graduate. The first Mélange prototype is slated to be finished soon and the kick off will take place in the winter of 2014. Megan also plans on attending the International Conference of Esthetics Conference (ICE) in California, where she’ll demonstrate Mélange to beauty professionals from around the world.

If you want to make a real impact on the beauty industry, it’s possible as long as you have a good work ethic and receive the right training! The beauty industry generates over $40 billion annually and offers endless job opportunities for licensed beauty professionals. You can see some of the career opportunities on this list of 10 Great Places to Work in the Beauty Industry.

Jobs are also predicted to stay strong in the beauty industry over the next decade! The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts jobs for beauty professionals will grow steadily between now and 2020. That statistic is especially true for licensed estheticians, where jobs are predicted to increase the most (25% by 2020). You can see more important esthetician career information on the Esthetician Salary Guide Infographic.

Salon Success Academy is an esthetician school that offers in-depth, hands-on training at its five convenient locations throughout the Inland Empire of California. The program is led by Esthetics Director Nick Alaniz, who recently revamped the esthetics program to include more advanced education, guest educators, and professional certifications. If you’d like to learn more about what it takes to start a new beauty career, you can fill out the form or call 877-987-4247.